A Look Back

∎Sharon Burnett will play the part of the eight-year-old girl in “The Bad Seed,” three-act drama by Maxwell Anderson, which will be the first major production of the Circle Players, to be given in December at the People’s Institute.

∎County Cmsr. Edwin M. Podolak today announced that he was investigating procedure whereby a pension could be granted to Sheriff Albert G. Beckmann for his many years of service. It is understood that he is not a member of the Hampshire County Retirement system, but pensions have been voted by the County Commissioners over the years to men in a similar positions.

25 Years Ago

∎The Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s president says it desperately needs the extra money offered by legislation seeking to aid 41 “underfunded” hospitals in Massachusetts. Without the approximately $1 million in relief the bill could bring, hospital President Willis H. Brucker warned that Cooley Dickinson could again face cost-cutting measures.

∎Racist graffiti apparently intended as satire at Hampshrie College has created tensions on campus, which peaked last week when a black student left the school, claiming she had been harassed continually for a month.

10 Years Ago

∎Smith College explored issues of racism and cultural diversity Thursday as hundreds of students, faculty and staff marked Otelia Cromwell Day, honoring the first black alumna of the college. The Smith community was torn apart last spring by a series of anonymous racist and homophobic graffiti in several dorms.

∎Hoping to keep people more informed and involved, Mayor Clare Higgins will start sending regular e-mail updates to as many residents as sign up to receive them. The bimonthly messages will address current city projects.